Addressing inequalities at territorial level: What are the lessons learnt in Albania, Zambia, Lebanon and Spain for the effective implementation of SDG 10?

Concrete experiences from Albania, Lebanon, Zambia and Spain will be presented during a quality-driven, inclusive and gender-balanced discussion panel on the added-value of sub-national governments as key players of equality and inclusion, at the occasion of the European Development Days 2019 in Brussels (18-19 June).

To reduce inequality within and among countries is the objective of the 10^th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). This goes hand in hand with SDG 11: to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

PLATFORMA and three of its partners (the Basque Country, CLGF and the Province of Barcelona) are partnering with Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in a lab discussion focusing on the key role of towns and regions in addressing inequalities at territorial level.

Rapid urbanisation generates a concentration of economic activities and increase the social, environmental and governance pressure on territories. By promoting multi-level and multi-actor dialogues that lead to more equitable service delivery, sub-national governments can help reducing the risks of social and spatial inequalities taking into account the territory’s economic and social strengths.

Closer to their citizens, sub-national governments can effectively target the most vulnerable groups, proving they are fundamental to address the root-causes of inequalities and establish sustainable strategies to address them. The discussion will equally address how decentralised cooperation is contributing to the achievement of SDG 10 in partner countries through knowledge exchange and empowerment of local and regional governments.

PLATFORMA and its partners call on the EDD community of practitioners and experts to join this discussion on Wednesday 19 June from 14:45 to 16:00 (room D4). No doubt that their expertise will contribute to enrich the debate!

Panellists:

• Béchir Odeimi, President of Cites Unies Liban
• Christopher Kangome, Mayor of Kitwe (Zambia) and President of LGAZ
• Marta Marin, Delegate of the Basque Country to the European Union
• Dr Valbona Karakaçi, Project Manager for the Local Development and Decentralisation Programme at HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
• Stefano Marta, Coordinator of Territorial Approach to SDGs at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Introduction and moderation)

Don’t miss as well:

• The Lab debate “The role of decentralised cooperation to address rising inequalities” co-organised by PLATFORMA, the Andalusian Agency for Development Cooperation and UNDP. Some of the awarded projects of the PLATFORMAwards will be presented to illustrate the nexus between decentralised cooperation, strengthening service delivery and addressing the root-causes of inequalities.
  18 June 10:00-11:15, room D1
•  “The Global Village City Hall” stand, co-hosted by PLATFORMA – CEMR, AIMF, CLGF, UCLG and UCLG-Africa as a space for exchange, networking and learning with the EDD community.
  Stand 47